Knitting machine drive shaft



S. W. LIPPITT KNITTING MACHINE DRIVE SHAFT July 23, 1935.

Filed April 12, 1932 v I ttorneg 5 In flat machine knitting it has been customary to drive the carriagethrough the mediumof a organization and to employ structed to aifordthe ready alignment or re- Patented July 23, 1935 ENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE DRIVE SHAFT Stephen W. Lippitt, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 12, 1932, Serial No. 604,756

18 Claims.-

This invention relates broadly to machines for knitting textile fabric .and more specifically to improvements in the carriage driving mechanism therefor.

chain and sprocket in such construction a thrust stabilizer or counter weight inorder to eliminate the deleterious effects of the back lash thrust imposed upon the cam plate carriage and its coordinated appurtenances. Where attempts have been made to drive the carriage through worm gearing or a helical grooved shaft it has been found that the jolts or blows initiated by the reversing mechanism have been so great as to impair the alignment of the machine, cause excessive; wear upon the drive shaft and effect impedient moving parts of. the

vibratory reactions in the. cyclic operation of the machine. 7

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a thrust neutralizing mechanism for use in conjunction with a helical grooved shaft drive wherein the vibratory reactions and the objectional effects thereof, as above referred to, are obviated. j Y 7 Another object of this invention is to construct a carriage driving mechanism in which thetorque reactions upon the carriagedriving member and gearing therefor are diminished as the carriage approaches the reversing mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved carriage driving apparatus which is organized to' facilitate a higher operating rate of speed in the carriage reversing mechanism and throughout the coordinated moving parts ofthe machine. p I Another object of this invention is to provide a'cari'ia'ge drive gearing mechanism which may be readily adjusted in place and which is conplacement of such parts as are subjected to wear.

Other objects more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized willappear in the following description, which considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention. n .In the drawing- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the machine embodying the, present invention,

1: the outer end portion 26 thereof being tapered .toreceivethe race of an anti-friction roller bearing 2! portions thereof being-shown-in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational vie of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view partially'in the carriage drive shaft and hers coordinated therewith.

.mg-faces 12 to the bed comprises a rigid cast frame provided with bosses thereon by a follower head is merged at each end of the ,groove 20a of the opposite handor reverse helix and left hand helicalgrooves20 and 20a.

section illustrating the preferred embodiment of vthe present invention.

Figure 4 is a detail view in'section illustrating portions'of the mem- Figure 5 is'a perspective view members of "the reversing-device.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figure 1., the machine embodies a bed plate In supported at its outer ends upon legs or stanchions I I which are bolted through flanged bearplate I 0. The bed plate of one of the formed in the upper forward face of the bed.. .These bosses are arranged at the outer ends of the bed plate and are adapted to receive and support the journals for the carriage drive shaft Adjacent the bosses l'3 and arrangedin spaced and aligned relation thereto there, are similarv bosses l5 vertically disposed, these bosses being provided to sustain the end thrust and shocks imposed thereon through the carriage reverse gearing. 1 1

In the present embodiment the carriage i6 is of i3 integrally the conventional. type having the usual cam plate (not shown) for controlling the elevation and retraction of the'knitting needles. Thecarriage is adapted for reciprocative movement upon the shearsor ways" of the machine and is driven IBguided in a sleeve l9 rigidly afiixed to the lower edge of 'the carriage 16. The follower-head comprises a floating arm having an arcuate shoe formed for engagement within a helical groove or a thread 20 milled in the driving shaft M. The groove ZDJextends throughout the major portion of the shaft and shaft with a second similarly out in the periphery of the shaft. The from one groove to the over or transfer groove which effects the alternate drive through the right The 2Uais"shortened for lead of the-grooves 20 and several convolutions adjacent the ends of the shaft as willbe seen by comparing the length of the lands or zones A and B in Figure 3. The lead is further reduced at'the extreme end of the shaft as shown in the zone C. The ends of the shaft H are'diametrically reduced to form the stepped shank portions 24; '25 and 26, respectively,

a suitable sleeve 1? which is journaled within termediate the bosses l3 and I5 and keyed upon the shank 26 of the shaft there is a driving gear 28. This gear-is arranged to mesh with a train of transmission gearing which is connected with the source of power. Adjacent each end of the shaft I4 there is a sleeve 29 mounted upon the end portions 24 and 25 of the shaft l4 and suitably bored for sliding engagement thereon. The outer end portion 30 of each sleeve is diametrically reduced to receive a contractile spring 3! which abuts the shoulder 32 in the sleeve and an antifriction thrust bearing 33 sustained by an adjusting sleeve 34 screw threaded in the boss l5. The sleeve 34 is bored to receive a bronze wear bushing 35 which retains the shank 25 of the drive shaft I4. The end face of the sleeve 29 is machined, throughout one-half of its diameter, normal to its longitudinal axis thus forming the end face 36 and the shoulders 31. The remaining end face of the sleeve is machined to form a curvilineal face 38, which follows the lead of the right hand helical groove 22 through 90", reverses throughout the remaining 90 and merges with the left hand helical groove 20a. Segments of the shaft adjacent the last convolution of the grooves-20 and 20a are cut away to the diameter of the shank 24 at points diametrically opposed to form shoulders of equal length with the shoulders 31. The shoul der 4| of the shaft is machined normal to its axis for abutting engagement with the face 36 of the sleeve.

'In operation the shaft I4 is rotatively driven through the gear train and driving pinion 28 and as the follower I8 is guided in the helical grooves a horizontal translation of the carriage is thereby effected. When the follower reaches the zone B of the groove 20, which is formed with a shorter lead, the rate of travel will be lessened upon the driving mechanism and the torque reactions upon the driving members'will be likewise reduced. As the follower enters the zone C of the groove 20 which is of shorter helical lead the rate of travel and torque reactions will be further reduced; moreover, the inertia forces imposed upon the follower will be correspondingly diminished. Upon further movement the follower will enter the guiding portion of the groove formed between the last convolution of the groove 20 in the shaft l4 and the curvilineal face 38 of the sleeve 29 thereby causing the follower to be guided into the helical groove 20a. of the opposite hand and thus effecting the reverse translation of the carriage IS.

The reciprocative movement of the carriage is controlled by the re-entrant engagement of the follower in the right and left hand helical grooves andsince the arcuate face 38 in the sleeve 29 effectuates the transfer of the follower from one of the helical grooves to the other, it follows that the thrusts or inertia forces from the carriage will be imparted to the sleeve 29. As the sleeve 29 is cushioned by the spring- 3| the vibratory reactions will be absorbed thereby, the thrusts and torsional load reactions being borne by the boss I5 which, as heretofore described, is formed integral with the bed casting l0.

Further diminution of the end thrusts upon the shaft journals is effected during the reversal of directional translation of the carriage by the shortened lead of the helical grooves adjacent the ends of the shaft. By virtue of this arrangement the rate of travel of the carriage will be progressively lessened as the follower enters each of the grooves having the shortened helical lead, thus the inertia forces upon the reversing sleeve are appreciably dispelled incident the engagement of the follower with the face 38 of the sleeve 29.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining and that various rearrangements of parts and modiiications of structural detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a shaft, right and left hand helical grooves therein, a carriage follower adapted to be guided in said grooves, a sleeve slidably mounted upon said shaft and having a surface thereon to guide said follower from one of the grooves to the other, means to retain the sleeve from rot-ative movement relative to the shaft, and means associated with the sleeve to yieldingly resist the movement of the follower upon engagement with the sleeve.

2. In a knitting machine, a carriage drive shaft, right and left hand helical grooves therein, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve slidably and non-rotatably mounted thereon, a cam surface upon the sleeve to guide the follower from one of the said helical grooves to the other, and a spring, associated with the sleeve, to retain the cam surface in operable position with respect to-the grooves.

3. In a knitting machine, a carriagedrive shaft, right and left hand helical grooves therein, a shoulder formed adjacent the end of the shaft, a follower guided in the helical grooves in said shaft, a sleeve slidably and non-rotatively mounted thereon, a cam face upon said sleeve to guide the follower from one helical groove to the other, and a spring, associated with said sleeve, to maintain the sleeve in abutting relation with the said shoulder.

4. In a knitting machine, a carriage drive mechanism comprising a shaft, helical grooves therein, a shoulder formed adjacent the end thereof, portions of the said shoulder forming a bearing face disposed parallel with the axis of the shaft, a sleeve mounted upon the end of the shaft, a bearing face formed in said sleeve normal to'its axis and adapted for alignment with the said bearing face in the shaft, a curvilineal surf-ace in the face of said sleeve constituting with said shaft a groove uniting the helical grooves, and a spring associated with said sleeve to effect the engagement of the said bearingfaces in the shaft and the sleeve.

5. In a knitting machine, a carriage drive reversing mechanism comprising a shaft, right and left hand helical grooves therein, a follower guided in said grooves, a member associated with said shaft having a surface formed thereon which unites the said right and left hand grooves into a continuous path, said member being yieldably supported coaxially with the shaft and nonrotatable relative thereto.

6. In a. knitting machine, a carriage drive shaft, right and left hand helical grooves therein, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve slidably and non-rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cam surface upon the follower from one of the said helical grooves to the other, a spring associated with said sleeve to retain the cam surface thereof in operable position relative to the grooves, and means for adjusting the spring pressure against the sleeve.

the sleeve to guide 7, In a knitting machine, "a bdplatefbosss formed thereon, journal bearings irr said bosses,"

' slidably mounted upon said shaft, a surface upon said sleeve to guide the follower from one groove to the other, means to effect the alignment of said surface with the grooves, and prevent rotative movement of the sleeve upon the shaft, and means associated with the sleeve to retain the same against the thrust of the follower.

8. In a knitting machine, a reverse drive mechanism comprising a shaft having a pair of helical grooves in the surface thereof, a follower guided therein, a sleeve mounted upon said shaft, a curvilineal surface in the end wall of said sleeve constituting an intermerged continuation of the said helical grooves, means associated with said sleeve to maintain the same in operative relation with the grooves, and means associated with said sleeve to yieldingly resist the thrust of said follower.

9. In a knitting machine, a bed plate having a boss formed therein, a journal bearing in said boss, a second boss aligned therewith, a thrust bearing supported thereby, alshaft mounted in said bearings, helical grooves in said shaft, a follower adapted to be guided in said grooves, a cylindrical sleeve having a cam surface in the end wall thereof for guiding said follower from one of said grooves to the other, a spring associated with said sleeve and saidthrust. bearing and disposed to resist the pressure of the follower upon the sleeve.

10. In a knitting machine, a bed plate, a boss formed therein, a journal bearing in said boss, a second boss aligned therewith, a thrust bearing supported thereby, bearings, helical grooves in said shaft, a follower adapted to be guided in said grooves, a shoulder adjacent the end of said shaft, a sleeve slidably and non-rotatably mountedupon said shaft, a curvilineal surface in said sleeve coordinated with said shoulder and forming an intermerged groove uniting the two helical grooves and means inter- I mediate thesaid sleeve and said thrust bearing to yieldingly resist the thrust of said follower.

11. In a knitting machine, a carriage drive reversing mechanism comprising 'a grooves in said shaft, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve having a concave face in a'portion of the end wall thereof mounted upon said shaft and adapted to eifect the transfer of the follower from one of said grooves to the other, and spring means to effect the operative alignment of the sleeve upon the shaft during the engagement of the follower with the sleeve.

12. In a knitting machine, a carriage drivereverse mechanism, comprising in combination with a machine base having thrust bearing bosses formed therein, a drive shaft, helical grooves therein, a carriage follower adapted to be guided in said grooves, a sleeve'slidably mounted on; said shaft, a concave face in a portion of the end wall of said sleeve coordinated with said grooves in said shaft to form a continuous track between the said grooves in the shaft and means associated with said sleeve to yieldingly resist .the transmissionof thrusts from the follower to the thrust bearing bosses.

'13. In a knitting machine, a bed plate having a boss formed thereon providing a journal bearing, a second boss coaxially aligned therewith, a sleeve screw-threaded within said second named boss,

a shaft mounted in said shaft; helicalashafti'mounted in thebearing in said bosses, right and left hand helical grooves in said shaft,

1 a "follower guided infsaid grooves, asleeve; slidably' ino'unte'd upon said shaft and'having a surfacethereon to guide said follower-from one of.

the-grooves tothe other,'and asprin'g surrounding said shaft and disposed intermediate said sleeve and the sleeve screw threaded within the second named boss aforesaid.

14. In a knitting machine, a bed plate having a boss formed thereon providing a journal bearing, a secondboss coaxially aligned "therewith, a sleeve screw-threaded within said second named boss, an anti-friction thrust bearing adjacent the said sleeve screw threaded in the second named boss, a shaft mounted in thebearings in said bosses, right and left hand helical grooves therein, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve slidably mounted upon said shaft and having a surface thereon to guide said follower from one of the grooves to the other, and a spring disposed about said shaft and compressively engageable with the said sleeve and said anti-friction thrust bearings.

15.. In a knitting machine, a bed plate having a boss formed thereon, a sleeve screw-threaded therein, an anti-friction bearing mounted within said sleeve, a second boss coaxially aligned with said first named boss, a sleeve screw-threaded within said second named boss, a shaft journaled in said anti-friction bearing, right and left hand helical grooves in said shaft, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve slidably guided upon said shaft, a curvilinear track in the end portion of said sleeve to guide the follower from one groove to the other, and means associated with the last named sleeveand in 'abutting'engagement with said second named sleeve to yieldingly resist the movement of the follower upon engagement with the sleeve.

16. In a knitting-machine, a bed plate, a boss formed thereon constituting a'journal bearing, an anti-friction bearingmounted in said boss, a second boss in said bed plate aligned with the first-named boss and forming a thrustbearing support; a shaft mounted in the bearing in said first-named boss, right and left hand helical grooves in said shaft, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve'slidably mounted in said shaft, a cam surface in saidsleeve to guide the follower fromone groove to the other, a spring to yieldingly resist the movement of the follower upon engagement with the 'sleeve, and means within the journal bearing boss to adjust the anti-ffriction bearing in axial relation with the said shaft. 17. In a knitting machine, a bed plate, a boss formed thereon constituting a journal bearing, an anti-friction bearing mounted in said. boss, a second boss in said bed plate aligned with the first-named boss and forminga thrust bearing support, a shaft mounted in said first named boss, right and left hand helical grooves in said shaft, a follower guided in said grooves, a sleeve slidablymounted on said shaft, .a cam surface in said sleeve to guide the follower from one groove to the other, a spring to yieldin gly resist the movement of the follower upon engagement with the sleeve, and means within said second named boss toadjust the spring pressure upon' said sleeve. y

i 18. Ina knitting machine, a bed plate, a boss formed thereon constituting a journal bearing, an anti-friction bearing mounted in said boss, a second boss in said bed platealigned with the first-named boss and forming a thrust bearing as Q support, a shaft mounted boss, right and left llower guided in said ounted on said shaft, to guide the follower first-named grooves in said shait, a Io grooves, a sleeve slidably m 5 a cam surface in said sleeve from one groove to the other, a. so

in the bearing in said hand helical ring to yield- 

